Couple faces list of abuse charges

Shawn and Amber Cordle are facing a list of abuse charges after police say their five children were covered in sores and rashes due to filthy living conditions.

Shawn and Amber Cordle appeared in court on Monday but their preliminary hearing was postponed.

Prestonsburg Police call this one of the worst child abuse cases they have seen.

Officer Zak Clark says last week he responded to an EMS call for help at the Cliffside apartments and met a father outside with a child that had rashes and blisters on his mouth.

Once he went inside, he says, "There was human and animal feces in every room of the house."

Clark says there were also cats, rotten food, and hydrocodone on the floor in reach of the five children, ages 16 months to seven years old.

He says upstairs, he found two children behind a metal gate and a string holding the door closed.

"They said that was how they kept them from escaping. There were two special-needs children laying in the same bed. It was stained with urine, there was feces everywhere on the walls. It was one of the worst things I've seen in awhile," said Officer Clark.

The five children went to the hospital with sores and severe rashes but officials say they will be okay.

The parents, Shawn and Amber Cordle, are charged with two counts of unlawful imprisonment, five counts of endangering the welfare of a minor, and five counts of criminal abuse. Bond is set at 25-thousand cash.

Public Defender Steve Goble said, "I don't have any details or facts at this time. We're confident those will come out as we begin our investigation of the facts."

The preliminary hearing is now scheduled for next Monday. Goble says the two are separated and are requesting separate attorneys.

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